What is the benefit or harm of lemon to the body? The healing properties of citrus
Lemon is a citrus plant. His homeland is the tropical islands of the Pacific Ocean, India, China. Scientists believe that this unique and useful fruit is a hybrid, as it was not found in a wild state.
People have known about its beneficial properties for a very long time, and thanks to this, the fruit has gained such popularity. But the chemical composition of lemon was studied only at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The healing properties of this fruit for humans
Consider the beneficial and healing properties of lemon for the human body. Lemon is rich in vitamins and minerals, organic acids., contains sugar, pectin. The main vitamin that made lemon famous is Vitamin C. It strengthens the immune system and gives the body strength to fight infection.
How is it useful for blood vessels?
Potassium and vitamin P, which are part of the lemon, strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Iron has the ability to increase the number of red blood cells. Lemons are recommended for improving blood circulation, with varicose veins.
In folk medicine, a mixture of lemon and garlic is used to cleanse blood vessels.. For the prevention of atherosclerosis, they prepare a mixture of lemon and orange twisted in a meat grinder (2 whole fruits) with 4 tbsp. l honey. After a day of insisting in a glass jar, the mixture is stored in the refrigerator and taken 3 times a day for a month for 1 tbsp. l before eating. This recipe is recommended for controlling cholesterol deposits, but you should not use it more than 1 time per year.
When coughing
The beneficial properties of lemon are successfully used for sore throat, cough and bronchitis, the fruit can be eaten fresh or brewed with boiling water and added to tea.It is not in vain that many medicines contain lemon in their composition. They also recommend inhalation of steam, boiling a glass of water, a third of a teaspoon of salt and adding a couple of drops of lemon oil.
From pressure
Lemon contains a large amount of vitamin P, which can lower blood pressure., and also stabilize it during the jumps. It contributes to the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system, sound sleep.
It is recommended to mix lemon pulp with honey and consume several tablespoons during the day with hypertension. If you are allergic to honey, you can cut the lemon into slices and eat about half a day.
We suggest watching a video about lemon with pressure:
For nails, including fungus
Lemons have always been used to strengthen nails., when delaminating the nail plates. You need to wipe your nails daily with a lemon peel and pulp. Effective baths with the addition of lemon juice, olive oil.
To combat nail fungus, make a paste of a small amount of turmeric and a few drops of lemon juice and lubricate the nail. Thanks to the antiseptic properties of turmeric and the whitening qualities of lemon, the result will be visible in a few days.
We offer you to watch a video about the benefits of lemon for nails:
From cancer
There is an assumption that substances that are part of lemon are able to fight cancer cells. In the United States, studies have been conducted of women with breast cancer and the effects of limonene on its body (it is contained in the zest). The results were encouraging.
But! There is still no scientific evidence for treating lemon cancer, therefore, first of all, it’s a qualified doctor, and nobody prohibits regularly eating these healthy fruits to prevent oncology. Moreover, vitamin C really protects our immune system.
We suggest watching a video about the use of lemon in cancer:
With gout
With gout, excess uric acid is deposited in the joints. In the treatment of this disease, diet is important, and lemon takes pride of place here. Lemon lowers uric acid levels by splitting citric acid into alkaline derivativespromotes the outflow of bile.
For teeth whitening
Lemon juice whitening is based on the high concentration of acid in this fruit. To achieve the result, you can:
- rub your teeth with a lemon peel;
- rinse your mouth with lemon solution;
- add a few drops of lemon juice to the toothpaste brush.
We offer you to watch a video about teeth whitening with lemon:
For blood thinning
Indeed, what is beneficial for lemon is that it can thin the blood, for this, during the day it can be eaten in slices, and in the morning on an empty stomach to drink a glass of lemon juice diluted with water. It will also improve the digestive system, relieve heartburn, belching.
Thus, the healing properties of lemon are huge.
- Provitamin A is good for vision, especially in older people.
- Vitamins B1 and B2 are important in the metabolic processes of the body.
- Citric acid increases appetite.
- Fiber is good for digestive problems.
- Lemon juice removes acne, freckles, cleanse and bleach the skin, add to shampoos.
- Use as a disinfectant for wounds, cuts.
How does it affect men?
Lemons have long been used to treat male infertility.The benefits of this citrus in the treatment of prostate adenoma have been proven.It helps to increase testosterone production, enhances potency. To do this, prepare a mixture of lemon with walnuts, honey, aloe juice.
Effect on women
Lemon has all the necessary substances for skin and hair care.
- After washing, rinse the hair with lemon juice after washing, which gives them silkiness, shine, rich color, removes oiliness.
- Lemon juice masks enhance skin color.
- Regular consumption of lemon rejuvenates the body, strengthens the immune system, removes toxins, and helps fight many diseases.
But the rumors about the contraceptive properties of lemon are greatly exaggerated. Douching with the addition of lemon juice will only cause burns and harm to your health.
During pregnancy and with HB
During pregnancy, resorption of a slice of lemon, diluted lemon juice, inhalation of oil help to cope with toxicosis. Lemon tea speeds recovery for coldsremoves heartburn.
When breastfeeding, especially in the first months of a child’s life, it is better not to use lemon because of the high risk of allergies in the baby. Then you can gradually introduce tea with lemon, while carefully observing the reaction of the child.Action on children
Before 1 year, the child should not give lemon. Consider how much a child needs to eat lemon at an older age so that citrus benefits the children's body. At the age of two, you can already brew tea with one slice of lemon several times a week. It all depends on the individual reaction of the child's body. Indeed, this citrus contains vitamin D, so necessary for children.
With a cold, a lemon twisted in a meat grinder with the addition of a spoonful of honey and butter can be spread on the child’s bread. Lemon helps with sore throat, bronchitis. But this must be done with caution.
Chemical composition
The main therapeutic component of lemon is citric acid, its pulp contains about 8%.
- Sugar: glucose (up to 0.8%), sucrose (up to 0.75%), fructose (up to 0.6%).
- Pectin substances - 0.5%.
One medium lemon contains:
- fats - 0.1 g;
- proteins - 0.9 g;
- carbohydrates - 9.32 g;
- water - 88.98 g;
- ash - 0.3 g;
- dietary fiber - 2 g;
- organic acids - 5.7 g;
- mono- and disaccharides - 3 g.
Calorie content - 34 kcal.
Also in lemon is:
- carotene;
- volatile;
- vitamins;
- macro- and microelements;
- flavonoids;
- essential oils;
- amino acids.
Is peel and zest good for your health?
Lemon zest contains several times more vitamins than pulp and juice. Therefore, when they talk about the benefits of lemon, they mean to a greater extent the peel, because it is the fruit that owes most of its healing properties.Lemon Zest:
- natural antiseptic;
- removes toxins from the body;
- quickly brightens spots on the skin;
- contains limonene, which has the ability to destroy malignant cells.
Frozen citrus
In general, frozen lemon does not lose its beneficial properties. Is he:
- effectively fights viruses;
- improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- prevents heart disease;
- cleanses the blood;
- enhances collagen production.
It is recommended for dissolving kidney stones. But vitamin P is still lost during the freezing process. For proper freezing, lemon must be washed, dried and send for several hours in the freezer. Then get it, grate and eat or use as an additive to dishes. You can freeze lemon wedges.
The use of lemon oil
What is lemon extract? The specific smell of lemon is due to the presence of essential oil in it. Lemon extract is isolated from citrus peel and used for medicinal purposes in medicine or cosmetology, as an ingredient for cosmetics.
It is believed that it:
- helps relieve stress;
- improves mood;
- removes outbreaks of aggression;
- improves skin condition;
- beneficial effect on the digestive process.
Action tincture
There are many recipes for lemon tinctures in combination with garlic, honey and other products. Allicin in garlic lowers cholesterol, vitamin C in lemon breaks it down.What is the use of such tinctures? The main purpose of tinctures is cleansing the body, burning fat. The popular name is "elixir of youth." Insist a mixture of lemon and garlic on honey or alcohol.
Honey tincture:
- boosts immunity;
- invigorates;
- dilutes blood;
- it is used to prevent strokes, heart attacks.
Alcohol tincture prevents spasm of cerebral vessels, it is used as an oncology prophylaxis.
Citrus with honey
Lemon with honey - a common combination of products in traditional medicine, cooking. Applicable:
- with colds;
- coughing;
- sore throat.
Such a mixture is capable of:
- lower heat;
- relieve headache, fatigue;
- improve metabolism;
- increase appetite;
- help the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
With aspirin
A mixture of lemon and aspirin is used to make face masks.softening corns. Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is useful for the skin, and this is the basis for the action of masks and scrubs. Lemon juice is added to the crushed aspirin, honey can be used.
Lemon juice has a bactericidal effect, honey softens the skin, while not clogging the pores. This mask is recommended to be made no more than 2 times a week. Corns are softened with lemon juice, which penetrates into the coarsened parts of the skin thanks to aspirin.With salt
Gargle with colds with lemon juice and salt, tonsillitis. With this solution, with regular use, puffiness is removed.
But more often the combination of these products is used to cleanse the intestines, since they are not absorbed, but wash away toxins, food debris, and toxins. It is effective for bloating, severity and other disorders of the digestive system. There are many contraindications to this method of cleaning, so you should not use it without consulting a doctor.
Is this fruit harmful?
Damage to the body can be done even by the most harmless product. Recipes of traditional medicine are used only as an additional tool for medical treatment. and after consultation with a specialist. You need to know the contraindications, individual tolerance of this product.
Are there any side effects?
Drinking lemon in small amounts is beneficial. But this does not apply to people suffering from diseases in which lemon is contraindicated. With caution, you need to treat him and have chronic diseases, various kinds of allergic reactions, since lemon is a recognized strongest allergen.
When using lemon juice for cosmetic purposes, redness of the skin is possibleburning. Lemon oil increases photosensitivity, can lead to skin pigmentation. With severe angina, lemon juice can cause burns to the mucous membrane. Do not get too carried away with teeth whitening, acid destroys tooth enamel.
Contraindications
Lemon is contraindicated in people with these diseases:
- stomach ulcer;
- gastritis;
- pancreatitis
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, duodenum;
- hypervitaminosis.
Limitations
With caution, lemon should be consumed:
- pregnant and lactating women;
- with nervous stress;
- with weak tooth enamel;
- with problems with blood pressure;
- having chronic diseases.
The usefulness of lemon for humans has long been known. Lemon - a real storehouse of vitamins, minerals, healthy acids. At the same time, the fruit has a low calorie content. And, surprisingly, being acidic, reduces the acidity of the stomach. Fresh lemon is used, in confectionery, in perfumery, in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages. It is added to sauces, drinks, jam. It needs a little, but the benefits are huge.